The NAPA building earlier this year.

Tom and Tena Dugan, owners of NAPA in Maricopa, announced the auto-repair half of the business, Mel’s Auto, will close Feb. 1. The auto-parts store will remain open “as we prepare for the construction of a new building,” they announced in a statement.

The repair equipment will be moved to their Stanfield location. A concierge service is to planned to open by April, at which point they will operate on an appointment-only basis. The Dugans have owned the business since 2002. They said they will continue to be involved in the community as they have since the 1990s.

“We thank all our customers who have remained loyal since we took ownership in 2002. Those of you who went above and beyond to utilize our service during the construction deserve a medal for braving the closures and police intervention to have your vehicles worked on. Please remember to utilize the “mom & pop” businesses here in town. They are the ones that support our community and have the loyalty you have found with us. Thank you for 18 years of support of our auto repair,” they stated.

The State of Arizona, through the Department of Transportation, bought the NAPA building as part of the overpass construction with the intention of demolishing it. Earlier, the property belonged to Don Pearce, who bought it as Valley Auto Parts in 1959.

In August, the Maricopa City Council approved a contract to sell two acres of Estrella Gin Business Park on Edison Road to Mels’ Auto/NAPA for around $150,000.